The forgotten U.S. types

[Nathan]

I just wanted to write down a quick list of forgotten early war U.S. types. I have always been interested in the "lessor known" types and figured maybe I could make an awareness of them. I am sure some here never knew of their existence. Many of these were light combat aircraft built for export.

Random I know but here it is:

North American P-64
North American A-27(only a handful made, saw service with the USAAC in the Phillipines 1941-42)
North American BC-1
Vultee P-66
CW-21(saw service with Royal Netherlands East Indies)
CW-22/SNC-1 Falcon(saw service Royal Netherlands East Indies)
Lockheed P-322 Lighning
P-43 Lancer

I feel I may be forgetting a few. Please add if I did.

Thanks,
Nathan

[davem]

Some of the more interesting ones I like:

Northrop Delta
Northrop N-3PB
Martin Baltimore

[Dan K]

Republic EP-1 (P-35 Swedish export version)

http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/jakt/109J9.htm


(Just look at that sheet metal work...drool)

[TonyM]

Here are a few obscure types used by USAAF:

Interstate L-6

St. Louis PT-15

Vultee V-72/A-31

Cessna AT-8

Federal AT-20

Culver PQ-14

Curtiss O-52

Fairchild AT-21

Douglas O-46

Curtiss SNC (USN)



TonyM.

[Steve Nelson]

I've always had a soft spot for the more obscure types as well. The Vultee Vengeance and Martin Baltimore are two of my favorites. Fortunately there have been very nice model kits of both released in recent years.

I supposed this should be in the modeler's section, but here it is anyway... I once converted an old Airfix P-38 to a P-322 Lightning I. I had to delete the turbos, recountour the nacelles (the Lightning I used the "long nose" Alison V-1710, same as the early P-40s, meanign the cowls were longer and the props lower.) Since the British Lightning also had non-counter-rotating props, I robbed them from a couple of derelict P-40 kits. From what I've read, the lack of turbochargers and counter-rotating props adversly affected the Lightning's performance and handling to the point that the Brits lost interest. Of the 140 or so built, all but the first couple of prototypes ended up with Stateside training units.

SN

[kalamazookid]

Couple I didn't see on here:

SBC Helldiver- the biplane
TBY Sea Wolf
Brewster Buccaneer/Bermuda- Always had a soft spot for these. Really cool looking aircraft. Sort of remind me of a "starved" Helldiver. I would LOVE to be able to build a model of one in 1/48, but I've never seen one.

Like Steve, I've also always liked the Vultee Vengeance. I like how the wings appear to sweep slightly forward (not sure if they actually do or not, but it looks cool). I remember there was one for sale that used to be at the Whale World collection. Anyone know what happened to it? Would be nice to see on either in the air or at the NMUSAF.

[JBoyle]

P-400
Curtiss A-12s...A few were at Hickam Field on Dec. 7.
Douglkas O-38s..stillin use by NG units and later BT-2 target drones.
And the DC-2 based C-32,33,34, C-39.

[Dan K]

Couple I didn't see on here:

TBY Sea Wolf...

Question is, should the Sea Wolf be considered an early-war aircraft? True, the design that was the XTBU is from 1941, but the first TBY's didn't start rolling off the assembly line until 1944, and the first Sea Wolf-equipped squadron wasn't planned to be on station in the war zone until November, 1945.

[TonyM]

I've always had a soft spot for the more obscure types as well. The Vultee Vengeance and Martin Baltimore are two of my favorites. Fortunately there have been very nice model kits of both released in recent years.

I supposed this should be in the modeler's section, but here it is anyway... I once converted an old Airfix P-38 to a P-322 Lightning I. I had to delete the turbos, recountour the nacelles (the Lightning I used the "long nose" Alison V-1710, same as the early P-40s, meanign the cowls were longer and the props lower.) Since the British Lightning also had non-counter-rotating props, I robbed them from a couple of derelict P-40 kits. From what I've read, the lack of turbochargers and counter-rotating props adversly affected the Lightning's performance and handling to the point that the Brits lost interest. Of the 140 or so built, all but the first couple of prototypes ended up with Stateside training units.

SN

Steve,

That is a smashing version of the RAF Lightning!

And I am a fan of the Matin Baltimore too.

TM

[John Dupre]

If we are going to list the Baltimore why not the Martin Maryland as well? I forget which came first but at least one of the types was used by both France and Britain. Also the Vultee P-66 Vanguard was neat looking aircraft and I swear I saw a photo of one still flying in the early 1970s. Then there is the Douglas DC-5 an obscure transport used by the Marines.

[Mgawa]

Hi mates,

my very good friend Nico Braas start series of articles in British magazine MAM about this less known machines. First to come in October will be XP-42...

Cheers